LPG blast hurts 10

CEBU, Philippines - At least ten people, including three children, were injured after a tank used to store liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for motor vehicles exploded in sitio Paglaum, Barangay Calamba at 3 p.m. yesterday.

One of the victims, Carlito Tampon, who brings stuff to the junkshop, was seriously hurt in the incident and is in critical condition.

The incident happened near the junkshop owned by Joel Ramos.

Tampon is now being treated at the Cebu City Medical Center for severe injuries.

He tried to remove the regulator from the tank so that whatever was left of the gas inside it would dissipate.

The move proved to be very dangerous as the tank exploded while the gas was released. 

Fire investigators theorized that the sparks caused by the pounding of the tank might have triggered the explosion.

Tampon sustained major injuries on his face, torso, and arms.

The other victims were identified as Junrey Douglas; Christina Mangubat, 35; Gwendolyn Montemayor and her daughter Alwina, 4; Kimberly Rama, 4, and her cousin Bianca Rama, 7; Germinia Templor, 26 and her son Nico, 7; and Christina Sayong, 22.

All of them are residents of the area.

They were all brought to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center. Sayong and the Templors, who did not sustain major injuries were first to be discharged.

Investigators of the Cebu City Fire Department said that victims were only a few meters away watching television and helping cook barbecue at a stand, which was only about three meters away from the tank.

Some of the residents believe that sparks from the grill used to cook the barbecue might have caused the explosion.

Erlinda Rama, grandmother of Bianca, said the children were helping her sell barbecue.

“Nitabang intawn na sila paninda of barbecue aron maka bawon sa eskwela,” (They were helping sell barbecue so they would have money for school) she said.

Junkshop cashier Berhildis Ong said that Tampon brought three LPG tanks, which he wanted to sell to them.

Ong said that she refused to buy the said tanks as Ramos, the junkshop owner, have reminded them not to buy LPG tanks unless these are already cut into pieces.

Tampon, Ong said, then put the tanks on an alley and tried to remove the regulator, which he was hoping to sell instead of the tanks.

Aside from the injuries sustained by the victims, the explosion also caused a fire that destroyed part of a wall of a house and nearby store.

Dennis Escaran, driver of Mayor Michael Rama, was passing the area when he noticed the fire and immediately put it off using a fire extinguisher from a battery shop nearby.

By the time fire trucks from the Cebu City Fire Department arrived, the smoke already cleared. Firefighters, however, still sprayed water to the affected structures to prevent the fire from rekindling.

Escaran then took two wounded to the hospital while the rest of those injured were also rushed by concerned citizens.

Fire Office 3 Emiliano Daño said that they will determine who would be liable to pay for the damage caused by the incident.

Ramos, in a separate interview, said he will help shoulder the hospital expenses, but said that he has always cautioned his workers not to accept LPG tanks.

Relatives of the injured are also asking for help from the junk shop owner for the medicine. — with Lesley Caminade of Banat News/NLQ - THE FREEMAN